The Healthy Course Checklist approved by the Colorado Online @ project team is available as a Word document download: Healthy Course Checklist.
The Healthy Course Checklist (HCC) is an abbreviated version of the full Quality Matters Plus (QM+) standards, which establish quality course design expectations for online courses delivered through Colorado Online @ (including but not limited to Ready to Teach courses). The HCC takes a high-level approach to identifying key criteria as well as highlighting examples of strategies that address each criterion. Use this checklist to identify growth opportunities within a course design or iterative course revision process, referring to the full QM+ standards as needed. Access more detailed checklists (currently available for Criteria 4-6) for focused reviews of existing courses that align back to QM+ standards. Complete the “Summary” section located at the end of the document to set priorities and an action plan.
Course Reviewed:
Reviewer Name and Role (course designer, instructor, etc.):
| Criteria Category | Description of Criteria with Recommended Strategies | How is the criterion currently met, and where in the course is the evidence found? | How could the criterion be met more thoroughly, and what are next steps to improve the course according to this criterion? |
| Criterion 1: Learner Guidance | Design provides course overview, clear policies and expectations, success resources, communication pathways, and consistent structure for ease of navigation. | ||
| Criterion 2: Measurable Outcomes | The course represents current CCNS course outcomes and is structured around measurable module-level objectives that are mapped back to CCNS outcomes. | ||
| Criterion 3: Alignment | Materials, activities, and assessments are aligned with course outcomes, through the measurable module objectives, and are scaffolded to facilitate progressive attainment of content/skills. | ||
| Criterion 4: Accessibility | All text, images, media, and activities meet web accessibility standards. Examples: • Images have alt text; complex images have long description • Videos are captioned • Heading styles are in correct sequential order If there is content that is not accessible, a plan is in place to remediate or provide alternatives. |
||
| Criterion 5: Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity | Course design includes representation of diverse perspectives and cultures; invites learners to respectfully share diverse identities, applications/examples, and resources; offers multiple means of representation, action and expression, and engagement per Universal Design for Learning; incorporates OER/ZTC where possible. | ||
| Criterion 6: Learner-Centered Design
|
Facilitates active learning and metacognition, makes connections between concepts to promote comprehension, invites learner voice, builds and leverages community/social presence, caters to mobile learners, exhibits flexibility. |
Summary for Next Steps:
We recommend that you identify 2-3 specific priorities for your course design based on the Healthy Course Checklist. What are your specific goals? What is your timeline for action? What resources do you need to achieve these goals? Where or how can you obtain that support?